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Rule Books Digital Archive

Most documents in the digital archive are in PDF format. However, some larger files may be in JPG, PDF, PNG or TIF format. The files are supplied strictly “As Is”. The entries in each list will make it clear what is available to download and what is only available by other means.

Please do not pass copies of the files around, instead ask interested persons to contact the Society to obtain their own copy. In terms of copyright, British Railways (Residuary) Ltd confirmed to the Society that it was 'not interested' in historical documents that had outlived their operational usefulness and this line seems to have been followed by Railtrack and now Network Rail, as may be evidenced by the quantity of modern material that has entered the public domain through eBay and other auction houses and second hand bookstalls. Similar advice has been received from London Underground in respect of material obtained lawfully from their staff or is already in the public domain.

If there is a download link in the left hand column, the notice concerned may be downloaded free of charge but bear in mind that the file may not contain all the items listed. Otherwise, if there is a “Members' Download” entry present in the item description, then Members (only) may download a copy of the file. If both links are present then Members will sometimes find additional information or a cleaner copy is available by using the “Members' Download” link.

Members will find the information needed to Log-in in the current issue of SRS News. Non-members will need to JOIN the SRS first which will entitle them to receive copies of SRS News when they are published.

Notices flagged with an asterisk (*) are not included in the free download file.

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The following items are currently available ...

The books available are listed by Railway Company or the British Railways Region or Railtrack or Network Rail Zone that issued them. Just click on the appropriate button below to go to the lists that are of interest to you.



British Railways

Number Issue Date Description
BR 87109 October 1972 Rule Book amended to February 1987.
Members' Download
BR 87213 c 1951 Single Line Working Form B (printed on green paper).
Members' Download
BR 87215 c 1951 Single Line Working Form D (printed on buff paper).
Members' Download
BR 87216 c 1990 Single Line Working Form (printed on white paper).
Members' Download

Great Western Railway

Number Issue Date Description
  February 1927 Ealing & Shepherd's Bush Section Supplement (incomplete).

London & North Eastern Railway

Number Issue Date Description
  January 1933 Extracts from Rule Book.
Members' Download

London & South Western Railway

Number Issue Date Description
  August 1864 Rules and Regulations for the guidance of Officers and Servants.
1497A March 1886 Rules to be observed by Linemen in the Engineer's Signal Department.

London Midland & Scottish

Number Issue Date Description
ERO 6498 January 1939 Reprint of 1933 edition incorporating supplements 1 to 11.
Members' Download
ERO 6498/28 December 1947 Additions and ALterations No.15 to reprint of 1933 edition.
Members' Download

British Transport Docks

Number Issue Date Description
D 518 1967 Special Instructions relative to Working of Traffic into and out of Southampton Docks.
Members' Download

London Transport & London Underground

Number Issue Date Description
51 1932 All lines. Issue of new rule book.
Available on Research Note 42.
44 1962 All lines. Amendments to London Transport rule book and appendix to working timetables.
Available on Research Note 42.
51 1962 All lines. Amendments to London Transport rule book and Appendix to working timetables.
Available on Research Note 42.
33 1968 Victoria line. Amendments and additions to London Transport rule book.
Available on Research Note 42.
08 1969 Victoria line. Amendments and additions to London Transport rule book (1969 edition).
Available on Research Note 42.
21 1983 Introduction of new LT Railway rule book from 4 July 1983 and associated amendments to appendices to rule book.
Available on Research Note 42.
39 1984 L.T. Railway rule book 1983 - Engineering hours procedures.
Available on Research Note 42.
02 1990 Introduction of new LUL rule book from 08 January 1990.
Available on Research Note 42.
04 1994 Replacement pages for the Central line handbook (1993) to the rule book (1990).
Available on Research Note 42.
09 1994 Amendments to the Central line handbook (1993) to the rule book (1990), April 1994.
Available on Research Note 42.
21 1994 Replacement pages for the Central line handbook (1993) to the rule book (1990).
Available on Research Note 42.

Railtrack

Number Issue Date Description
G0/RT 3012/4 August 1999 Briefing Note for new edition of rule book.
Members' Download
G0/RT 3012 August 1999 Peronalised Rule Book No.12 (Person Working on Rail Vehicles) amended to Supplement No.9, December 2002.
Members' Download